Tag: marijuana

With the rising alcohol and drug addiction among adolescents in the state capital being a major cause of concern. Rising stress levels among children because of academic pressure, emotional distress and parental expectations was causing drug abuse to rise among them which a survey has pointing out that as many as 21 percent children in Shimla schools were into drugs.

The sample survey conducted on 2,000 of the nearly 10,000 students studying in Shimla has found that 54.74 per cent of the boys and 24.16 per cent girls were addicted to drugs or other intoxicants (identified as regular users). These students were from both private and government schools.

Nearly 29.3 per cent were addicted to cigarette and gutka khaini. Alcohol consumption was found among 24.45 per cent, cannabis among 20.87 per cent, cough syrups among 4.4 per cent and opium among 3.4 per cent. The study included 1,267 boys studying in seven government and five private schools.

Type of Drug’s

1. Heroin

As a destructive opioid, heroin can lead to seizures, psychosis, and hallucinations when it is abused. Heroin injections can also spread diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis.

2. Cocaine

Cocaine is a very dangerous stimulant even when taken in small amounts. It induces euphoria, increases blood pressure, and accelerates the heart rate. The drug may lead to fatal strokes or heart attacks for some users.

3. Crack

A potent form of cocaine, crack is often smoked and suddenly creates an intense euphoric sensation for a short while. Crack has turned into a problem because it is cheap and easy to buy and use.

4. Hallucinogens

PCP (phencyclidine) and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) are hallucinogens, which means that they make users feel, see, and hear things that are not real.

5. Amphetamines

Accelerating the user’s bodily and mental functions, amphetamines can cause manic periods of distress in abusers. These periods are usually accompanied by extreme paranoia, inexplicable behavior, and delusions.

6. Marijuana

Marijuana is the most common illegal drug that is abused, and many people begin using it as a recreational drug in social situations. Continued abuse of marijuana can lead to addiction, and the substance can affect the physical coordination, memory, and mental functions of users over time.

7. Alcohol

Abusing alcohol can cause psychological, physical, and social problems, and it can lead to the destruction of relationships, friendships, and marriages. A lot of alcohol abusers drink so much that their bodies are unable to handle it.

8. Inhalants

Inhalants are not technically in the category of narcotics, but people abuse them and can become addicted to them over time. Some of the substances that are considered inhalants include spray paint, butane, and nitrous oxide that they can inhale to achieve a high.

9. Prescription Drugs

The second-most commonly abused drugs are prescriptions, including everything from anti-anxiety medications to sedatives and ADHD pills to anti-seizure medications. The abuse of prescription painkillers such as Vicodin and Oxycodone during recovery from injuries is also very common.

10. Ecstasy

Ecstasy, or the “love drug” was commonly used in the 1980s and is still part of the club scene. Users feel happy, loving, alert and focused, yet very relaxed when under its influence. Some users can also do without sleep for between 24-72 hours at a time. Ecstasy, also known as “E” or “X,” is a very seductive type of addiction, and many users have difficulty admitting that they would have trouble quitting it once they start using.

11. Benzodiazepines

“Downers” like Xanax, Valium and Klonopin make users feel calm and relaxed by increasing the brain’s nerve-calming agent, called GABA. It’s hard to get off this drug once a tolerance starts to build up, which can take place very quickly. More than 15 types of benzodiazepines, aka “benzos,” are available via prescription, although forms of the substance are traded on the black market as well.

12. Methadone

Methadone is an opioid that is commonly prescribed to treat heroin or morphine addicts, as this pain reliever helps the user come down from those harder substances. Even though the risk of addiction is low when used as directed by a doctor in a clinical setting, many recreational users have been drawn to the substance and subsequently become addicted. Methadone generally comes in the form of tablets, powder and liquid. It shares some of the same effects as morphine, but is not quite as strong or addictive as that opiate.

Malana is an ancient village to the north-east of Kullu Valley. This solitary village in the Malana Nala, a side valley of the Parvati Valley, is isolated from the rest of the world. At an altitude of 9,938 feet above sea level lies the village of Malana also known as the village of Taboos. This village in the state of Himachal Pradesh is a magical green rimmed village that overlooks the Deotiba and Chandrakhani Peaks. Malana village is connected to Kulu by three mountain passes. Once in the state of Himachal Pradesh it can be reached from Parvati valley across the Rashol Pass and Chanderkhani pass. The easiest way to reach Malana is from Jari by hiring a taxi since no public buses ply to the village of Malana, which is 23 km away.

The village of Malana is considered as one of the oldest democracies in the world. It is also known by the drug mafia for its hash which is extracted from the Cannabis plant and travels the world which is also the main source of income for the Malanese.

If one decide to visit this village of Taboos it is advisable to not touch the walls or belongings of any of the Malanese people as you will have to pay a fine if you touch anything. ‘Kanashi’ is the local language of Malana and does not sound like any of the dialects spoken in its neighboring villages and the language is also considered to be one of the secrets of the village that outsiders from other villages are not allowed to use.

History

Malana has a history and it goes back to Jamlu rishi (sage) who inhabited this place and made rules and regulations. It is one of the oldest democracies of the world with a well organized parliamentary system. All of this is guided by the their devta (deity) Jamlu rishi. Although Jamlu is currently identified with a sage from the Puranas, this is a relatively recent development. Jamlu is believed to have been worshiped in pre-Aryan times.

Malana also known as the village of Taboos

Malana is considered to be one of the first democracies in the world. According to tradition, the residents of Malana are the descendant of Aryans, and they acquired their independence during the Mughal reign when the Emperor Akbar walked to the village in order to cure an ailment that he was afflicted with; after having been successfully cured he put out an edict stating that all the inhabitants of the valley would never be required to pay tax. An alternative tradition suggests that Malana was founded by remnants of Alexander the Great’s Army.

Malana’s Crème

Malana’s crème has a notorious legacy in international stoner culture. It has won the Best Hashish title twice, in 1994 and 1996, at High Times magazine’s Cannabis Cup. Marijuanaphiles the world over have since made this region a popular weed-tourist destination, branded in travel and ganja-hunting literature as the exotic and alluring “Malana and the Magic Valley.” It was inevitable that the farmers would start to realize the global potential of their plants—and that the cops would take any and all measures to prevent these rural agriculturalists from increasing production. The most effective tool in authorities’ arsenal is satellite technology, but the farmers have found a workaround.

Israeli

Since the mid-nineties dozens of tourists have gone missing in the valley, many have turned up dead, many haven’t turned up at all. Stories of tourists heading to the valley, then getting murdered are all too common. Bodies get washed up on river banks and in various decomposing states have also been found in the mountains. No one speaks about it and the police struggle to solve any of these cases, often finding it difficult to even pick up any leads. Travel within the valley alone (without a guide) is dangerous and has been proven to be deadly all too regularly. Locals are reluctant to speak, and a few years ago the Guardian (UK) sent reporters to find out why people were going missing without any real sense of investigation. Locals shut them out, they were spat at and even foreigners seemed annoyed and hostile of their presence. What they uncovered was something of conspiracy theories, something they could never envisage and something that when first warned by the local paper they dismissed as ridiculous. They were told by a local paper that actually, those foreigners who had been found dead may have crossed the wrong people. The drugs trade is rife in the mountains, and a survivor who saw his 14 year old son and female companion slaughtered was testament to the fact that there were robberies in the valley.

Malana Village

Malanis (the inhabitants of Malana) admire their culture, customs and religious beliefs. They generally do not like to change though some traces of modernization are visible. People in Malana consider all non-Malani to be inferior and consequently untouchable. Visitors to Malana town must pay particular attention to stick to the prescribed paths and not to touch any of the walls, houses or people there. If this does occur, visitors are expected to pay a forfeit sum, that will cover the sacrificial slaughter of a lamb in order purify the object that has been made impure. Malani people may touch impure people or houses as long as they follow the prescribed purification ritual before they enter their house or before they eat. Malanis may never accept food cooked by a non-Malani person, unless they are out of the valley (in which case their Devt can’t see them). Malanis may offer visitors food but all utensils will have to undergo a strict purification ritual before they can be used again.

Kasol is a village in Himachal Pradesh, northern India. It is situated in Parvati Valley, on the banks of the Parvati River, on the way between Bhuntar to Manikaran. It is located 42 km east of Kullu at the height of 1640 meters. Kasol is partitioned into Old Kasol and New Kasol on the either side of the bridge. Kasol is at distance of 5 kilometre from holy place Manikaran..

A Mini Israel In Himachal Pradesh

Kasol has recently transformed into a hub for backpackers, who are attracted to the scenic valley, untouched hills, low population, and good climate throughout the year. Kasol is also a base for Himalayan trekking, to SarPass, Yanker Pass, Pin Parbati Pass and Khiriganga. Most of the trekking is organized by the Youth Hostel of India and the base camp for the Sarpass Trek is at Kasol. Visitors from Israel are common in Kasol and one can see the Hebrew language banners throughout the valley.

Kasol is also Know as Mini Israel in Himachal Pradesh. The shops in the village of Kasol have western food and clothes. There is only one school which has classes up to 7th grade. The nearest college is in Kullu. The recent inflow of Israeli tourists has triggered mushrooming of restaurants, hotels and shops catering to their needs. Kasol is inhabited mostly by tourists from Israel which is why most of the hoardings are in Hebrew and the Israeli Shakshouka, a dish of poached eggs in tangy tomato gravy along with hummus and pita bread will definitely drown you in its’ rich flavours. The Israelis in India move from Kasol to Paharganj in Delhi to Goa with an elan as if each is in their neighbourhood.

Mysterious Himachal

Kasol is ideal for a vacation if you want to chill in the lap of nature. The village is an open space by the banks of the Parvati River where one can spend lazy afternoons. The river abounds with trout and is the perfect place for angling. However, permission from forest department is required for trout fishing in the river. Parvati river at Kasol is ideal for white water rafting.

It isn’t clear if the name Parvati valley has anything to do with the manufacture of Hashish or marijuana that is grown in this part of India but the melancholy beauty of the place will leave you wanting for more. Visitors are attracted to the town because of its hospitality, beautiful environs, and wild charas, a hand-made hashish made from the cannabis that is plentiful to the area.

With Parvati river gurgling and the formidable snow-capped mountain lurking from a corner, reading a book in a café by the river would be an interesting thing to do but while in Kasol and not indulging in trekking would reckon the getaway incomplete.